Health

Japa: Five wards in LUTH shut, beds empty, say Reps

Published

1 year ago

November 29, 2023

Advocate News Nigeria

Japa: Five wards in LUTH shut, beds empty, say Reps

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The House of Representatives Committee on Health has revealed that not less than five wards with about 150 beds, have been closed down at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba due to a shortage of health workers.

The chairman of the committee, Dr. Amos Magaji explained that the five wards had to be shut because there were no health workers to operate them despite the large number of patients received at the institutions on a daily basis.

While lamenting that the institution was under threat as a result of brain drain, the health committee chairman stated that many health workers in LUTH, especially nurses and doctors, had left the teaching hospital in search of greener pastures.

Speaking with newsmen shortly after an oversight visit to the teaching hospital, Magaji noted that the alarming rate of migration of health workers was becoming a national embarrassment to the country.

He, however, said that steps were being taken to halt the massive exodus of health professionals abroad.

“We saw significant problems here. Right now, there are about five wards in LUTH, totalling about 150 beds that have been shut down because there are no nurses and doctors to work in those wards. And these are a result of the ‘Japa’ syndrome we are having.

“As a committee, we will work together with the Federal Government and also with the teaching hospital to find a way out of these national embarrassments that have befallen this country.

“It’s not something that can be fixed in one day, but nevertheless, we are going to be approaching it piecemeal. We are going to do what we can do immediately and what we can do long-term approach to it.

“So, by the grace of God, some of the issues of the ‘japa’, we are actually looking at how to solve this problem, starting even from the enrollment in universities, and then how house officers are employed, and then of course, the residency programme.”

While admitting that many health professionals in the country work under stringent conditions, the health committee chairman further stressed, “We will also look at issues of funding. We are also looking at issues of infrastructure, because the truth is that, many health workers in Nigeria are working under stringent conditions.

“They have sacrificed so much for Nigerians to be healthy, for us to get proper health care. Our hands are on deck, and then that was the reason why if you were here earlier, you discovered that some of the key questions and some of the key things we attended here were things that have to do with delivering affordable and accessible health care to Nigerians.”

In his remarks, the Chief Medical Director of LUTH, Prof. Wasiu Adeyemo, urged corporate individuals and Nigerians to partner with the institution in delivering quality health care to the people.

The CMD noted that the hospital would continue to strive for public-private partnerships in cancer management, radio diagnosis, lab services, several ophthalmology services, and several dental services.

He maintained that partnership with the other stakeholders would go a long way in solving some of the major challenges the health sector was being faced with.

Health

Mbah inaugurates N300m remodeled mission hospital in Enugu

Published

3 months ago

January 4, 2025

Advocate News Nigeria

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Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, on Monday, inaugurated a mission hospital remodeled at the cost of N300m in Ihe community, Awgu Area Council of the state.

The hospital was remodeled by the members of Ihe Development Initiative (IDI), a group of entrepreneurs, academics and servicemen from the community.

The hospital was established in 1976 by the Catholic Diocese of Enugu through the assistance of Ihe traditional ruler, late Dennis Nwachukwu but now managed by the Catholic Diocese of Awgu.

Mbah, represented by the State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Emmanuel Obi, said the project aligned with his administration’s plan to bring healthcare delivery closer to people in the rural areas.

According to the governor, It is a thing of honour to see how IDI and the Ihe community have joined in supporting the innovative push of his administration with the developmental project.

“It is very commendable because it aligns with policies of the Enugu State government, which include a move to push the poverty index of the state to zero.

“What they have done is to refurbish and bring a new face to healthcare delivery to Ihe and its environs,” Mbah said.

He, however, called for stronger partnership between the community and Catholics Diocese of Awgu to sustain the facelift of the hospital.
“Since it is a mission hospital, we will partner with them when they write officially to us,” he said.

The Bishop of the diocese, Most Rev. John Okoye, also expressed happiness with the intervention by IDI in transforming the hospital to serve humanity better.

“I say congratulations to them and I encourage them to look to other areas where people suffer to provide help.”

He pledged to look into the hospital being understaffed as observed, adding that the diocese would partner with the community to sustain the hospital by providing the needed manpower.

The clergy urged members of the community and its environs to keep patronising the hospital for better healthcare delivery.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the event, Air Commodore Chiemeka Ozoemena (Rtd), lauded the team work in transforming the hospital.

“I therefore, urge all sons and daughters of Ihe, the Catholic Diocese of Awgu as well as workers in this facility to always remember that this accomplishment belongs to all of us and to take care of it.”

Earlier, Dr Madueke Ekoh, the President Ihe Development Initiative (IDI), said they engaged in the remodeling of the hospital to help their people and make their lives better.

He said before the intervention, the hospital was a ghost area, completely dilapidated with non functional facilities.

“Based on that, we were tasked with developing modalities to effectively and efficiently galvanize support to initiate a rescue mission.

“IDI was able to raise some resources through ourselves, well-wishers and friends both home and abroad. We raised about N300 million to do all these things.

“We rebuilt the main building, refurbished the general ward, purchased new hospital beds with accessories, new maternity labour bed, high quality office chairs and table.

“We rebuilt staff quarters, built a fence with new rails and gate and solar powered borehole with full reticulation to all areas of the hospital.

“We also installed high capacity 10KVA solar power, established drainage systems, refurbished hospital ambulance and performed general landscaping with asphalted pavements,” Ekoh said.

He explained that IDI would set up a Hospital Endowment Fund where people can donate to sustain the hospital.

Highlights of the event include bestowing of awards to distinguished members of the community, presentation of cash gifts to students of the community who excelled in their studies and others.

Health

NAFDAC warns Nigerians against use of recalled Nivea Roll-On deodorant

Published

5 months ago

November 1, 2024

Advocate News Nigeria

Nivea Roll-On deodorant

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The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) is alerting the public about the recall of Nivea BLACK &WHITE Invisible Roll-on deodorant, 50ml marked 48H Protection in African Climate with batch number: 93529610 by European Union (EU) Rapid Alert System for Dangerous Non-Food Products (RAPEX) in Brussels.

The recalled Nivea product is said to contain 2-(4-tert-Butylbenzyl propionaldehyde (BMHCA), a chemical prohibited in cosmetics products due to its ability to cause harm to the reproductive system, impairs the health of an unborn child as well as skin irritation and burns to users.

Product details

The details of the product are as follows.

Product Name: Nivea BLACK &WHITE Invisible Roll-on deodorant, 50ml

Country of Manufacture: Germany

Batch Number: 93529610

Bar Code Number: 42299882

Category: Cosmetics

Importers, distributors, retailers, and consumers are advised to exercise caution and vigilance within the supply chain to avoid the importation, distribution, sale, and use of the above-mentioned Nivea Roll-on with the affected batch. Members of the public in possession of the affected batch of product should discontinue the sale or use and submit stock to the nearest NAFDAC office.

Healthcare professionals and consumers are encouraged to report adverse events experienced with the use of regulated products to the nearest NAFDAC office, via pharmacovigilance@nafdac.gov.ng, E-reporting platforms available at www.nafdac.gov.ng or via the Med-safety application for download on android and IOS stores.

Health

Enugu gov’t to revamp Oji River College of Health Technology, beefs up security

Published

7 months ago

August 25, 2024

Advocate News Nigeria

Enugu Gov’t set to clear LG pensions backlog as over 7000 pensioners receive payments

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The Enugu State Government has announced its intention to revamp the existing infrastructural facilities to give the Enugu State College of Health Technology in Oji River a face-lift and also scale-up institution to a technology-savvy citadel of learning.

The government made this known during a meeting with the management, staff, and students of the institution at the Enugu State Government House at the weekend, stressing its commitment to ensuring quality health service delivery in the state.

The government, which made this known through the Special Adviser on Health Matters, Dr. Yomi Jaye, also asked the students of the institution to go back to school and continue with their academic calendar, as all those involved in the recent breach of security in the school’s neighborhood had been rounded up and now facing the law.

The governor equally gave the college management a two-week ultimatum to develop a workplan, which the government would work on to ensure that the school functions at its optimum level.

Briefing Government House correspondents after the meeting, Dr. Jaye said, “We interacted with the management, staff and students of the Enugu State College of Health Technology, Orji River, to come up with a strategic plan to revamp the college and restore its lost glory. His Excellency, Governor Peter Mbah, has expressed his willingness not only to revamp the school, but to upscale it to a technology-savvy teaching community.

“As you can see, the government is bullish about building Type-2 Healthcare Centre in each of the 260 wards and this college will produce some of the qualified workers that will deliver quality healthcare services to Ndi Enugu.

“We appeal to the parents and guardians to allow the students to go back to school and resume their academic activities as more security personnel have been deployed to make sure that both Oji River and its neighbouring communities are properly secured.

“It is also important to inform you that those who perpetrated the security breach have since been arrested and the victims, which included one student, also freed,” he maintained.

Also speaking, the Provost of the College, Dr. Lazarus Ezugwu, expressed his happiness over the state government’s move to revamp the institution, saying he was optimistic that the glory of the institution would be restored in no distant time.

When commending Governor Peter Mbah and the security agencies for their swift response to the recent security breach at the College, he also confirmed that security had been strengthened around the institution and Oji River in general.

“The meeting is such a commendable one. It goes a long way in telling us the type of visionary leader we have in the state. To be sincere, the total overhaul that will be done in the college is going to be enormous. What is coming to the college cannot be imagined because the governor has shown both special interest and political will. This is what we have been yearning for, for so many years,” Dr. Ezugwu stated.